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Mysterious hearing loss, what could have caused it?
Hearing Loss | Last Active: Oct 10, 2021 | Replies (27)Comment receiving replies
I lost my hearing in one ear quite suddenly four months ago. I didn’t fully realize it until four days later. Since it was a Friday but I realized it, I didn’t get into an ENT until Monday which I know now, was already too late.I did the 10 day steroid prescription, then the ear injections and MRI. At my first visit, I was told there was only about a 30% chance that anything would work at that point. And of course, nothing helped. I am left with 4% hearing in that year along with a lot of distortion. I am a musician but now unable to conduct or sing because I can’t always match pitches.I have done some pretty extensive research on SSHL and no one really has any answers for us.
Replies to "I lost my hearing in one ear quite suddenly four months ago. I didn’t fully realize..."
@musicislife I'm sorry to hear this as I know first hand that hearing loss is a life changing disability. There are three people in my HLAA chapter who have had SSHL with no help from treatment. All three have become cochlear implant recipients and are doing well a decade or more after getting the implant. This may be a future consideration for you. If the hearing in your other ear has remained normal, there are other solutions. Did your medical team mention anything about bi cross hearing aids? Or bone anchored hearing aids (BAHAs) that transmit sound from one side to the other. Both are for single sided hearing loss.
Millions of Americans experience hearing loss; some sudden and some gradual. It's important to be open to learning how to live well with it. Sounds like you're doing research. I hope you have discovered the Hearing Loss Assn. of America along the way. HLAA provides a lot of information, besides being the only consumer organization for hard of hearing people. HLAA pushes for research in medicine and technology while providing excellent opportunities to learn from people who understand the problems. http://www.hearingloss.org
There are a couple of organizations for musicians with hearing loss that you might want to check out. http://www.musicianswithhearing loss.org is one of them.
Let me know if this is helpful to you.
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I had a very similar situation seven years ago and the same follow-up.
My case was diagnosed as « delayed contra lateral endolymphatic hydrops » in the inner ear. I have been taking hydrochlorothiazide and a potassium supplement to reduce sodium in my inner ear, and Betahistine to increase circulation in my inner ear for the past seven years. This has helped a little. I suggest you talk to your ENT about these medications.